按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her master to…morrow。〃
CHAPTER III。
THE PURPLE FLASK。
THE cab was waiting at the gates as Miss Gwilt approached the
Sanitarium。 Mr。 Bashwood got out and advanced to meet her。 She
took his arm and led him aside a few steps； out of the cabman's
hearing。
〃Think what you like of me；〃 she said； keeping her thick black
veil down over her face； 〃but don't speak to me to…night。 Drive
back to your hotel as if nothing had happened。 Meet the tidal
train to…morrow as usual； and come to me afterward at the
Sanitarium。 Go without a word； and I shall believe there is one
man in the world who really loves me。 Stay and ask questions； and
I shall bid you good…by at once and forever！〃
She pointed to the cab。 In a minute more it had left the
Sanitarium and was taking Mr。 Bashwood back to his hotel。
She opened the iron gate and walked slowly up to the house door。
A shudder ran through her as she rang the bell。 She laughed
bitterly。 〃Shivering again！〃 she said to herself。 〃Who would have
thought I had so much feeling left in me？〃
For once in her life the doctor's face told the truth； when the
study door opened between ten and eleven at night； and Miss Gwilt
entered the room。
〃Mercy on me！〃 he exclaimed； with a look of the blankest
bewilderment。 〃What does this mean？〃
〃It means；〃 she answered； 〃that I have decided to…night instead
of deciding to…morrow。 You； who know women so well； ought to know
that they act on impulse。 I am here on an impulse。 Take me or
leave me； just as you like。〃
〃Take you or leave you？〃 repeated the doctor； recovering his
presence of mind。 〃My dear lady； what a dreadful way of putting
it！ Your room shall be got ready instantly！ Where is your
luggage？ Will you let me send for it？ No？ You can do without your
luggage tonight？ What admirable fortitude！ You will fetch it
yourself to…morrow？ What extraordinary independence！ Do take off
your bonnet。 Do draw in to the fire！ What can I offer you？〃
〃Offer me the strongest sleeping draught you ever made in your
life；〃 she replied。 〃And leave me alone till the time comes to
take it。 I shall be your patient in earnest！〃 she added；
fiercely； as the doctor attempted to remonstrate。 〃I shall be the
maddest of the mad if you irritate me to…night！〃
The Principal of the Sanitarium became gravely and briefly
professional in an instant。
〃Sit down in that dark corner；〃 he said。 〃Not a soul shall
disturb you。 In half an hour you will find your room ready； and
your sleeping draught on the table。〃〃It's been a harder
struggle for her than I anticipated；〃 he thought； as he left the
room； and crossed to his Dispensary on the opposite side of the
hall。 〃Good heavens； what business has she with a conscience；
after such a life as hers has been！〃
The Dispensary was elaborately fitted up with all the latest
improvements in medical furniture。 But one of the four walls of
the room was unoccupied by shelves； and here the vacant space was
filled by a handsome antique cabinet of carved wood； curiously
out of harmony； as an object； with the unornamented utilitarian
aspect of the place generally。 On either side of the cabinet two
speaking…tubes were inserted in the wall； communicating with the
upper regions of the house； and labeled respectively 〃Resident
Dispenser〃 and 〃Head Nurse。〃 Into the second of these tubes the
doctor spoke； on entering the room。 An elderly woman appeared；
took her orders for preparing Mr s。 Armadale's bed…chamber；
courtesied； and retired。
Left alone again in the Dispensary； the doctor unlocked the
center compartment of the cabinet； and disclosed a collection of
bottles inside； containing the various poisons used in medicine。
After taking out the laudanum wanted for the sleeping draught；
and placing it on the dispensary table； he went back to the
cabinet； looked into it for a little while； shook his head
doubtfully； and crossed to the open shelves on the opposite side
of the room。
Here； after more consideration； he took down one out of the row
of large chemical bottles before him； filled with a yellow
liquid； placing the bottle on the table； he returned to the
cabinet； and opened a side compartment； containing some specimens
of Bohemian glass…work。 After measuring it with his eye； he took
from the specimens a handsome purple flask； high and narrow in
form； and closed by a glass stopper。 This he filled with the
yellow liquid； leaving a small quantity only at the bottom of the
bottle； and locking up the flask again in the place from which he
had taken it The bottle was next restored to its place； after
having been filled up with water from the cistern in the
Dispensary； mixed with certain chemical liquids in small
quantities； which restored it （so far as appearances went） to the
condition in which it had been when it was first removed from the
shelf。 Having completed these mysterious proceedings； the doctor
laughed softly； and went back to his speaking…tubes to summon the
Resident Dispenser next。
The Resident Dispenser made his appearance shrouded in the
necessary white apron from his waist to his feet。 The doctor
solemnly wrote a prescription for a composing draught； and handed
it to his assistant。
〃Wanted immediately； Benjamin；〃 he said in a soft and melancholy
voice。 〃A lady patientMrs。 Armadale； Room No。 1； second floor。
Ah； dear； dear！〃 groaned the doctor； absently； 〃an anxious case；
Benjaminan anxious case。〃 He opened the brand…new ledger of the
establishment； and entered the Case at full length； with a brief
abstract of the prescription。 〃Have you done with the laudanum？
Put it back； and lock the cabinet； and give me the key。 Is the
draught ready？ Label it； 'To be taken at bedtime；' and give it to
the nurse； Benjamingive it to the nurse。〃
While the doctor's lips were issuing these directions； the
doctor's hands were occupied in opening a drawer under the desk
on which the ledger was placed。 He took out some gayly printed
cards of admission 〃to view the Sanitarium； between the hours of
two and four P。M。；〃 and filled them up with the date of the next
day； 〃December 10th。〃 When a dozen of the cards had been wrapped
up in a dozen lithographed letters of invitation； and inclosed in
a dozen envelopes； he next consulted a list of the families
resident in the neighborhood； and directed the envelopes from the
list。 Ringing a bell this time； instead of speaking through a
tube； he summoned the man…servant； and gave him the letters； to
be delivered by hand the first thing the next morning。 〃I think
it will do；〃 said the doctor； taking a turn in the Dispensary
when the servant had gone out〃I think it will do。〃 While he was
still absorbed in his own reflections； the nurse re…appeared to
announce that the lady's room was ready； and the doctor thereupon
formally returned to the study to communicate the information to
Miss Gwilt。
She had not moved since he left her。 She rose from her dark
corner when he made his announcement； and； without speaking or
raising her veil； glided out of the room like a ghost。
After a brief interval； the nurse came downstairs again； with a
word for her master's private ear。
〃The lady has ordered me to call her to…m